COURTHOUSE — A Pottstown man showed no emotion as he admitted to sexually assaulting a 13 year old girl in a bathroom at the spray park area of Memorial Park.

William Rodgers, 22, of the 100 block of North Franklin Street, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court on Tuesday to a felony charge of sexual assault in connection with the incident that occurred in the summer of 2011. Judge Wendy Demchick-Alloy deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Rodgers.

Rodgers, who faces a sentence of up to 15 years in prison on the charge, remains in the county jail without bail pending sentencing.

The judge also ordered Rodgers to be evaluated by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Assessment Board, which will determine if Rodgers meets criteria under the state’s Megan’s Law to be declared a sexually violent predator. Those deemed to be predators face more stringent restrictions under Megan’s Law, including community notification about their living arrangements.

Regardless, Rodgers faces a lifetime requirement to report his address to state police under Megan’s Law.

At the time of the incident, Rodgers was 21 and the girl was 13.

Rodgers, who was represented by defense lawyer Edward Rideout, pleaded guilty shortly before his trial was to begin. By pleading guilty to the charge, Rodgers admitted that he had sexual contact with the victim without consent.

As he was escorted from court by sheriff’s deputies, a handcuffed Rodgers responded, “No,” when asked by a reporter for comment about his admission to the charge.

The victim, her mother, and Rodgers’ mother were in court to witness Rodgers’ guilty plea. Rodgers conferred with his mother shortly before making the decision to admit his guilt.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Pottstown Detective Heather Long, the girl told police that she saw Rodgers sitting at a pavilion in the park as she walked to a bathroom. The victim told police she “heard the door handle jingle and then the lights went out,” according to the arrest affidavit.

The girl crawled to a corner of the bathroom before she heard Rodgers start talking.

“(The victim) started to scream and Rodgers put his hand over her mouth telling her it was okay,” Long alleged, adding Rodgers proceeded to sexually assault the girl.

Assistant District Attorney Kathleen Colgan is seeking a lengthy state prison sentence against Rodgers.

“The particulars that he pled guilty to are just extremely disturbing and frightening for anyone, especially a 13 year old girl,” said Colgan, referring to the allegations set forth in the affidavit of probable cause.

Other charges of rape, statutory sexual assault and indecent assault of a person less than 16 are slated to be dismissed against Rodgers, in exchange for his plea to the sexual assault charge, at time of sentencing.

Testimony revealed that the incident was not Rodgers’ first contact with law enforcement. Rodgers previously was prosecuted in juvenile court, according to testimony. The nature of those charges was not revealed in court.